Written Answers Thursday 9 November 2006

Scottish Executive

Air Services

Mark Ballard (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any research or calculations that it has undertaken to determine whether expanding direct air flights from Scotland will reduce climate change emissions.

Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive has not carried out any such research. All proposed Route Development Fund air routes are however appraised against a range of operational and economic benefit criteria. These include an environmental component to the appraisal of new services with two indicators of environmental impacts – aircraft noise and carbon dioxide emissions.

Alzheimer's Disease

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will undertake a study to compare the outcomes for patients who purchase donepezil, galantamine and rivastigmine privately for mild Alzheimer’s disease and patients who do not receive the drug until they develop moderate Alzheimer’s disease.

Lewis Macdonald: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO), within the Scottish Executive Health Department, has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health and health care needs in Scotland. The CSO does not normally commission research but supports research projects of a sufficiently high standard initiated by the research community in Scotland. This role is well known and advertised throughout the health care and academic community in Scotland. Although the CSO is not directly funding any research into anticholinesterase inhibitors, donepezil, galantamine or rivastigmine, it would be pleased to consider proposals for research into Alzheimer’s disease which would be subject to the usual peer and committee review.

  The Medical Research Council, one of the main agencies through which the UK Government supports medical and clinical research, currently supports two trials looking at the efficacy of anticholinesterase inhibitors in the treatment of patient groups with moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease.

External Relations

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28165 by Mr Tom McCabe on 20 September 2006, how many individual subscriptions there have been to the e-magazine, Scotland-Now .

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28165 by Mr Tom McCabe on 20 September 2006, how the e-magazine, Scotland-Now , has been publicised.

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28165 by Mr Tom McCabe on 20 September 2006, what the total expenditure has been on the e-magazine, Scotland-Now .

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive engages with the Scottish diaspora to further Scotland’s interests for the long-term benefit of our economy and society. Scotland-Now showcases modern Scotland as a great place to live and work, visit, study and invest.

  We communicate regularly with the diaspora, alumni and people with an affinity towards Scotland electronically through regular updates. The latest edition of Scotland-Now (www.scotland-now.com) the e-magazine which is specifically aimed at the Diaspora audience, issued on 27 September 2006.

  The Executive works with key partner organisations such as Scottish Enterprise, VisitScotland, AncestralScotland.com, and the British Council amongst others to promote and distribute Scotland-Now through their websites and networks.

  Other promotional activities to increase awareness of Scotland-Now have included the distribution of postcards promoting Scotland-Now at ministerial and other appropriate events in the UK and overseas. Recent examples of events where this has been done are the Globalscot Conference and the Celebrate Scotland event that the First Minister hosted in San Francisco, USA on 18 October.

  The World Pipe Band Championships, the British Columbia Highland Games, Vancouver, Canada and the Melbourne International Arts Festival, Australia have also received some sponsorship from the Executive. The aim of the sponsorship has been three-fold; to publicise Scotland-Now, to strengthen existing diaspora relationships and to promote Scotland’s International Image.

  The weblink to each edition of Scotland-Now is issued to over 70,000 individuals. Two thousand, seven hundred and eighty-three subscribers register direct and, additionally, subscribers to partner organisations, including the globalscot network, Talent Scotland, AncestralScotland, VisitScotland, Scottish Networks International (SNI), various Alumni associations, and Rampant Scotland, also receive updates on an individual basis.

  The total expenditure to date on Scotland-Now is £22,625.25. This represents a cost of approximately 0.33p for every individual who receives the weblink.

External Relations

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of its diaspora strategy, launched in October 2005.

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much expenditure it has incurred implementing the recommendations of its diaspora strategy, launched in October 2005.

Mr Tom McCabe: The First Minister launched the diaspora strategy in October 2005 during his visit to Canada.

  The diaspora strategy aims to encourage the active participation of ancestral Scots and other groups with an affinity to Scotland in promoting Scotland as a great country to visit, live, learn, work, do business and invest. This is a long-term project; through sustained engagement at a number of different levels, the strategy will build on and strengthen the existing relationships between Scotland and the international diaspora for the overall economic and social benefit of Scotland.

  Level one of the strategy, the publication of an e-magazine has been implemented. In March 2006, the first edition of the quarterly e-magazine Scotland-Now (www.scotland-now.com) was published. The e-magazine is specifically aimed at the diaspora audience.

  Level two of the strategy, engagement with diaspora groups and other affinity groups is on-going. The Executive is in the process of mapping Scottish associations and diaspora groups overseas to effectively target them with information on modern Scotland.

  Targeted engagement has taken place with individuals and diaspora groups in North America and Australia and Scottish organisations in London. The total recorded expenditure to date on Scotland-Now and the initial engagement with North America, Australia and Scottish organisations in London is £55,459. Scots diaspora attended Celebrate Scotland events hosted by the First Minister in Melbourne last year, and in San Francisco on 18 October this year. Full costs are not yet available for those events.

  In addition ministers and officials undertake various other engagements and ad hoc contact with a variety of organisations as part of their normal duties. For example, I took the opportunity to meet with several diaspora organisations (such as the St Andrews Societies of Washington and New York) when I visited the US for Tartan Week (April 2005 and 2006 respectively).

  We will continue to work with key partners such as Scottish Enterprise, VisitScotland, and AncestralScotland amongst others, to share information and, where appropriate, undertake joint country-specific activities. The approach for each country will be adapted to suit local needs.

  The long-term engagement with the diaspora will support the Executive’s work on Scotland’s International Image, Fresh Talent and country plans.

Ferry Services

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications are for subsidies, ferry operators and the communities that depend on lifeline ferry services of the statement in the Caledonian MacBrayne 2005-2006 Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements that "…the European Directive on maritime cabotage,…provides that State Aid may be paid only to fulfil a Public Service Obligation…", in light of the Executive’s position that Public Service Obligations are not required on subsidised Caledonian MacBrayne routes.

Tavish Scott: There has been a degree of confusion on this issue in recent media coverage and it may be helpful if I set out a full explanation. Article 4.1 of the Maritime Cabotage Regulation says:

  "A Member State may conclude public service contracts with or impose public service obligations as a condition for the provision of cabotage services, on shipping companies participating in regular services to, from and between islands."

  This very clearly states that public service obligations and public service contracts are alternatives. Article 4.2 of the Regulation says:

  "In imposing public service obligations, Member States shall be limited to requirements concerning ports to be served, regularity, continuity, frequency, capacity to provide the service, rates to be charged and manning of the vessel"

  Article 2.3 of the Regulation records that:

  "A public service contract may cover notably:

  - transport services satisfying fixed standards of continuity, regularity, capacity and quality,

  - additional transport services,

  - transport services at specified rates and subject to specified conditions, in particular for certain categories of passengers or on certain routes’

  - adjustments of services to actual requirements."

  From this, It is evident that a public service contract allows a wider range of factors to be specified, including the critical factor of quality, than a public service obligation. This is made very clear in the Communication on the interpretation of the Maritime Cabotage Regulation published by the European Commission in December 2003. Section 5.3.1 of this document says:

  "Article 4.2 of the Regulation sets out an exhaustive list of requirements that may be introduced when "public service obligations" are imposed. Article 2.3 of the Regulation provides only an indication of the scope of public service contracts; Member States may go further. In practice, quality requirements are often part of ‘public service contracts’, but cannot be introduced as part of ‘public service obligations’."

  The Executive wishes to ensure a high quality service, including the binding of operators to the vessels that have been purpose-built for the Clyde and Hebrides services, and this is only possible through a public service contract.

  There is scope for confusion, given the different senses in which the word "obligation" can be used. The word can refer to the instrument or regulation used to impose the limited range of requirements permissible under a "public service obligation". However, it can also refer to the public service duties and responsibilities that are imposed on a contractor by means of a "public service contract". Any contract imposes obligations on the contractor and in the case of a "public service contract" these are public service obligations. This point is illustrated well in a recent Answer given by the European Transport Commissioner in response to a Written Question (P-3802/06) on the subject. The answer reads:

  "Council Regulation (EEC) No 3577/92 of 7 December 1992 applying the principle of freedom to provide services to maritime transport within Member States (maritime cabotage) allows Member States to impose public service obligations on all operators on a given route to ensure sufficient service on that route where it appears that, if they considered their own commercial interest, operators would not propose an adequate level of services. These obligations may be imposed by regulation or, if this does not suffice to meet essential transport needs in an adequate manner, laid down by way of public service contracts. If necessary, financial compensation may be granted to operators to cover the costs involved in meeting public service obligations.

  The imposition of public service obligations is therefore a precondition for any compensation being given.

  Such compensation does not constitute State aid if complies with the criteria laid down by the Court of Justice in its judgment in Altmark."

  The key sentence is "These obligations may be imposed by regulation or, if this does not suffice to meet essential transport needs in an adequate manner, laid down by way of public service contracts." This clearly maintains the principle that imposing obligations by way of regulation (i.e. proceeding via a Public Service Obligation) and laying the obligations down by way of public service contracts are alternative, not complementary, routes. In the case of the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services, the obligations that the contractor will be expected to accept will be set out in the service specification for the tender and will be embodied in the contract that is ultimately signed with the selected operator.

  There is, therefore no question of two documents or instruments - a Public Service Obligation, imposed by regulation, and a Public Service Contract - being required before subsidy can be offered. As with any contract, the obligations can be set out in the contract itself.

Finance

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what reports on or relevant to the 2007 spending review it has received from (a) internal sources, (b) Her Majesty’s Government and (c) external sources and when such reports will be published.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Executive has published two documents on our futures work - the Strategic Audit and the Trends Analysis – and the responses to the Transforming Public Services discussion document.

  In July, the Treasury published their report on Value for Money in the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review.

  I have received the report of the Budget Review Group, which will be published in September 2007.

  In addition, there will be a range of reports on specific policy areas that have been submitted to the Executive that will be relevant to the spending review.

Genetically Modified Food

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken by the Food Standards Agency in Scotland to check that food businesses are not selling food containing LL601 rice.

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken by the Food Standards Agency in Scotland to check that supermarkets are not selling food containing LL601 rice, following advice issued by the Food Standards Agency to retailers on 5 October 2006.

Lewis Macdonald: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that enforcement of legislation on GM food is the responsibility of local authorities, who are responsible for taking the necessary actions to ensure that food on sale in Scotland complies with the requirements of food law, including the regulations governing the sale of GM food.

Health

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive what the rate of childhood obesity has been in Glasgow in each year since 1999.

Lewis Macdonald: Childhood obesity figures for NHS Greater Glasgow are only available for pre-school children. The following table shows the body mass index distribution in children receiving a 39 to 42 month review, up to 2001.

  

Year of Birth
Number of 39-42 Month Reviews
% Obese(>=95th Centile)


1999
6,738
8.3


2000
6,416
7.9


2001
6,172
8.3



  Source: ISD Child Health Surveillance Programme (Pre-School).

  For the purposes of this analysis, those children who are ³ 95th centile, based on the 1990 UK reference standard, are defined as obese. The 1990 UK reference standard is based on data collected between 1978 and 1990. Using these standards it is expected that 5% of children would be obese.

Historic Sites

John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will co-operate with the Battle of Prestonpans (1745) Heritage Trust to seek to safeguard the site of the battlefield and to promote awareness of its local and national significance.

Patricia Ferguson: The Executive is taking steps to promote awareness of battlefields in Scotland, and recognises Prestonpans as a site of national significance. We are committed to working in partnership with the voluntary sector, and are happy to talk to the Battle of Prestonpans Heritage Trust; indeed a meeting between the Trust and Executive officials took place recently.

Homelessness

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what statistics it has on the number of migrant workers sleeping rough in Inverness.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many offenders have had fines deducted directly from their (a) benefits or (b) wages and how many have been subject to any other order seeking to recover goods or money in each year since 1999.

Cathy Jamieson: Information on the number of sheriff court fines marked for recovery by deduction from benefits or wages was given in the answers to questions S2W-24321, S2W-24322 and S2W-24323 on 27 March 2006 .

  The available information on district court fines which resulted in deductions from income support is given in the following table.

  District Court Fines1 Resulting in Deductions from Income Support2, 1999-2000 to 2004-05.

  

Year
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05


Number3
630
729
636
653
646
498



  Notes:

  1. Court imposed fines.

  2. For those district court commission areas who reported the use of deductions of money from income support in the period 1999-2000 to 2004-05.

  3. Some district court commission areas were not able to provide this information. For example, in 2003-04 and 2004-05 this information was not available for Dumfries and Galloway, Eilean Siar, Fife, Glasgow and Stirling. In 2003-04 East Renfrewshire was also unable to provide this data. Care should therefore be taken when considering these Scotland totals.

  Information is not held centrally on the number of offenders who have had district court fines deducted directly from other benefits or wages.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many compensation orders have been imposed in each year since 1999.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information on the number of convictions which resulted in a compensation order being imposed is given in the following table.

  Convictions in Scottish Courts with a Compensation Order Imposed1, 1999-2000 to 2004-05

  

Year
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05


Total
5,360
5,462
6,450
8,029
9,265
9,176



  Note: 1. As main sentence or in addition to some other penalty such as a fine.

Justice

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the average length of time taken between an appeal against an asylum application outcome being lodged and the case being (a) heard and (b) concluded.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive does not hold information on asylum proceedings within the tribunal system. This is a matter for the Home Office.

  The various types of appeal that reach the Scottish Courts are referred to in the answer to question S2W-29303. The average length of time taken in relation to each of the four types of appeal is as follows:

  

 
1. Petitions for Statutory Review
2. Petitions for Reconsideration
3. Statutory Applications Regarding Appeal
4. Petitions for Judicial Review


Current average waiting period (in term weeks)
N/A (see note 1)
12 
32 
8 



  Note: 1. Applications to the court by way of petition for statutory review of decisions of the old Immigration Appeal Tribunal are no longer dealt with.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is the policy of the Crown Office to make a full disclosure to the defence of information obtained by, or available to, it; if not, when the position changed, and, if the position has not changed, on how many occasions full disclosure has not been made and what the reasons were for this.

Elish Angiolini QC: The Crown’s policy and practice in relation to disclosure rests on its legal duty as understood in McLeod  v  Her Majesty’s Advocate in 1997 i.e. it has a subsisting duty to provide to the defence information disclosed during the course of the investigation which is likely to be of material assistance to the proper preparation or presentation of the accused’s defence.

  Following Lord Bonomy’s review of the practice and procedure of the High Court, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) issued a Crown Practice Statement on Disclosure in High Court cases which introduced a formal system of disclosure in all High Court cases where the first appearance of the accused was after 1 January 2005. In order to support the High Court reform programme, the scheme exceeded the crown’s legal obligations, as set out in McLeod, by disclosing all witnesses statements in its possession, subject to limited exceptions.

  The decisions of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in the cases of Holland v Her Majesty’s Advocate and Sinclair v Her Majesty’s Advocate in May 2005 reconsidered the extent of the Crown’s obligation under McLeod and led to a further change in the practice so that the COPFS now provides the defence with copies of any statements, in their possession, of witnesses who will give evidence at trial in the sheriff and district courts. In addition, in light of these decisions, the COPFS also introduced a system to provide the defence with appropriate information about the previous convictions and outstanding charges of witnesses.

  The COPFS database does not record information about the number of cases where disclosure has not taken place or the reasons for this. Accordingly, the further information requested is not available.

Local Government Finance

Bristow Muldoon (Livingston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the report of the Local Government Finance Review Committee to be published.

Mr Tom McCabe: I understand that the committee is making its report public today. I am grateful to Sir Peter Burt for leading the review and to Professor John Baillie, Peter Daniels and Dr Janet Lowe for all their hard work over the past two years.

  This is a substantive and substantial piece of work and merits careful consideration by the Executive, the Parliament, local authorities and the wider Scottish public. I hope this comprehensive report can be a catalyst for an informed and constructive debate on the future of local taxation in Scotland.

Mental Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what services are in place specifically to address mental health problems in young people.

Lewis Macdonald: A wide range of mental health services are provided for young people in Scotland. Whilst we do not collect detailed information centrally on every service, Children and Young People’s Mental Health: A Framework for Promotion, Prevention and Care was developed in 2005 to assist local health, education and social services in planning and delivering integrated approaches to children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing, and provides an overview of services put in place for young people.

Planning

Mr Charlie Gordon (Glasgow Cathcart) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time staff are employed, and at what financial cost, in administering community planning partnerships in Scotland.

George Lyon: The number of staff employed in administering community planning partnerships, and the associated financial costs, are a matter for the partnerships themselves, and for the local authorities, on which the statutory duty to initiate, facilitate and maintain the community planning process rests. The information requested is not held centrally.

Police

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers are currently being treated on methadone programmes.

Cathy Jamieson: Medical issues relating to individual officers are subject to patient/doctor confidentiality. Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland’s Substance Misuse Policy is designed to provide a framework for the prevention and management of alcohol and drug related problems within the Scottish Police Service.

Police

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what redress is available to people who are wrongfully refused entry to the police force on medical grounds.

Cathy Jamieson: If an applicant believes they were wrongfully refused entry to the police service on medical grounds then they can write to the Force Medical Advisor seeking a review.

Prison Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many trained drug sniffer dogs have been deployed in Scottish prisons in each year since 1999.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  

Financial Year
No. of Dogs


1999-2000
2


2000-01
8


2001-02
12


2002-03
12


2003-04
12


2004-05
10


2005-06
6



  The drug detection dogs have reduced in number from 12 in 2001-02 to six in 2005-06 due to tactical changes in the configuration of the SPS operational dog capability.

Prison Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners have been on methadone medication in each month since May 1999.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The precise information sought is not available.

  The number of prisoners being prescribed methadone on specific dates from December 2004 to August 2005 is available and is given in the following table:

  

17 December 2004
845


10 June 2005
886


30 September 2005
934


30 December 2005
984


12 May 2005
1,093


25 August 2006
1,140

Prison Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many nurses have been employed in Scottish prisons in each year since 1999.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information requested is only available from 2000 and is shown in the following table:

  

On 1 April 2000
121


On 1 April 2001
129


On 1 April 2002
136


On 1 April 2003
142


On 1 April 2004
143


On 1 April 2005
149


On 1 April 2006 
153

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many convicted drug offenders are participating in rehabilitation schemes in prison.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The precise information requested is not available, but in 2005-06, there were 1,004 approved activities course completions relating to alcohol and drugs.

Rail Network

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates it would cost to make the railway from Inverness to Perth double track in its entirety; how long it estimates it would take to complete this work, and how the estimated (a) cost of and (b) timescale for completion of any such project compares with the estimated cost of, and timescales for, the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link.

Tavish Scott: Network Rail owns and operates Scotland’s rail infrastructure. Estimates on the cost of enhancing the rail network and likely timescales could best be estimated by Network Rail.

  The Edinburgh Airport Rail Link scheme has a budget of £496.987 million at 2004 prices and is scheduled for completion by 2011.

Rail Network

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what direction and guidance it has given to Transport Scotland regarding track access charges on the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail line.

Tavish Scott: Transport Scotland is part of the Scottish Executive, directly accountable to Scottish ministers. Consequently, no such direction or guidance has been given.

Rail Network

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration is being given to reopening the Edinburgh South Suburban Railway.

Tavish Scott: We are aware of the SESTRAN aspiration to reopen the Edinburgh South Suburban Railway, and the feasibility work that has been undertaken. We are considering this alongside development of our forthcoming National Transport Strategy and associated rail policy document Scotland’s Railways. A decision on the Edinburgh South Suburban line will be made following publication of these documents.

Roads

Campbell Martin (West of Scotland) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28407 by Tavish Scott on 6 October 2006, what the reasons are for the delay in the commencement date of the construction of an off-line improvement to the carriageway of the A737 at the Den, between Dalry and Beith; what the Executive’s source was for the earlier anticipated commencement date of June 2006, as referred to in the Minister for Transport’s letter to me dated 12 September 2005, and how many of the decisions referred to in the answer to question S2W-28407 had been reached prior to June 2006.

Tavish Scott: The A737 Den Improvement Scheme is being promoted and funded by North Ayrshire Council.

  The scheme programme, and measuring progress against it, is the responsibility of North Ayrshire Council and requires to fit in with other planned improvements on the route in order to manage the level of disruption to the travelling public.

  The scheme at the Den could be brought forward if the scheme planned at Barrmill Road slips due to objections and no objections to the Den Orders are received. Progressing Transport Scotland’s elements is dependent on the timely supply of all the necessary material from the council including draft Orders, Environmental Report, draft Record of Determination, draft Environmental Statement (if required) Geotechnical Certification and design and construction details.

  The Scottish Executive’s source for the earlier anticipated start date of June 2006 advised to you in September 2005 was North Ayrshire Council, and based on its anticipated programme at that time.

  Decisions relating to the principle of the council proceeding with the scheme on the Trunk Road were reached in May 2003. Decisions taken relating to technical aspects, environmental and statutory processes and programming have been on-going both prior to and since June 2006. This will continue as the council works through its programme until construction of the scheme is complete.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Rural Affairs

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive how many deprived households there are in rural Scotland.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not available on a household basis.

  The following information is based on the number of individuals in low income households which can be used as a proxy.

  The official source of low income data for Scotland is the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) dataset, which is derived from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). The following table provides estimates on the number of individuals living in households below 60% of both the absolute GB median (median at 1996-97 fixed in real terms) and relative GB median (current median income).

  Table: Number and Proportion of Individuals in Absolute and Relative Low Income in Rural Scotland 2004-05

  

  
 
 
Rural Scotland


Relative Measure
Absolute Measure


Before Housing Costs
After Housing Costs
Before Housing Costs
After Housing Costs


Number of Individuals
(000)
% of Rural Population
Number of Individuals
(000)
% of Rural Population
Number of Individuals
(000)
% of Rural Population
Number of Individuals
(000)
% of Rural Population


In low income
130
14
140
15
80
8
80
8


Not in low income
810
86
800
85
860
92
860
92



  Source: Households Below Average Income, 2004-05.

  Note: The income used in the low income estimates is called equivalised net disposable household income. This equivalised income allows the comparison of living standards between households that vary in size and composition.

  Net disposable household income: Total income from all sources (including Tax Credits) after deductions for income tax, National Insurance contributions, council tax, pension contributions and maintenance payments.

  Housing costs: Rent/mortgage payments, water charges, structural insurance premiums, ground rent and service charges.

Rural Affairs

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive how many severely deprived households there are in rural Scotland.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not available on a household basis.

  The following information is based on individuals in severe low income households which can be used as a proxy.

  The official source of low income data for Scotland is the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) dataset, which is derived from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). The following table provides estimates on the number of individuals living in households below 50% of both the absolute GB median (median at 1996-97 fixed in real terms) and relative GB median (current median income).

  Table: Number and proportion of individuals in absolute and relative severe low income in rural Scotland 2004-05

  

 
Rural Scotland


Relative Measure
Absolute Measure


Before Housing Costs
After Housing Costs
Before Housing Costs
After Housing Costs


Number of Individuals
% of Rural Population
Number of Individuals
% of Rural Population
Number of Individuals
% of Rural Population
Number of Individuals
% of Rural Population


In severe low income
80
8
90
9
40
4
50
5


Not in severe low income
870
92
850
91
900
96
890
95



  Source: Households Below Average Income, DWP

  Note: The income used in the low income estimates is called equivalised net disposable household income. This equivalised income allows the comparison of living standards between households that vary in size and composition.

  Net disposable household income: Total income from all sources (including Tax Credits) after deductions for income tax, National Insurance contributions, council tax, pension contributions and maintenance payments.

  Housing costs: Rent/mortgage payments, water charges, structural insurance premiums, ground rent and service charges.

  Figures may not sum due to rounding.

Rural Affairs

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has about how many households in rural Scotland are living on benefits.

Malcolm Chisholm: There are estimated to be 50,000 households in rural Scotland living on income related benefits (Job Seeker’s Allowance, Income Support and Pension Credit) in 2004-05. These households may be receiving other benefits in addition to the income related benefits. More than one person in the household could be in receipt of benefits.

  The estimates are based on the Department for Work and Pensions’ Family Resources Survey.

Rural Affairs

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has how many households in rural Scotland do not have a bank account.

Malcolm Chisholm: There are estimated to be 20,000 households in rural Scotland that do not have a bank account in 2004-05.

  Bank accounts are defined as those that accept Automatic Credit Transfers (ACT), which are defined as Basic Bank Accounts, Current accounts, Post Office accounts, or savings accounts with any other bank or building society.

  The estimates are based on the Department for Work and Pensions’ Family Resources Survey. Estimates for those without a bank account include those households which are unknown or refused to provide an answer.

School Meals

Gordon Jackson (Glasgow Govan) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what evaluation has taken place of the Hungry for Success initiative since its introduction.

Robert Brown: Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education continues to monitor the implementation of Hungry for Success as part of their general inspection programme.

Scottish Executive Staff

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what average hourly rate has been paid by it to employment agencies for agency staff in each year since 1999, broken down by agency.

Mr Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-27188 on 1 August 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  In addition, the agreed hourly rate paid to Pertemps for the lowest grade of clerical staff was increased from £6.77 to £7.21 with effect from 1 October 2006.

Voluntary Sector

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support the work of voluntary organisations over the next 12 months.

Johann Lamont: The Scottish Executive’s Vision for the Voluntary Sector , published in December 2005, sets out our clear recognition of the importance of the voluntary sector. We work closely with the sector and provide a wide range of support for voluntary organisations across all portfolios.

  Government funding to the voluntary sector is at an all time high, with £656 million in grants provided in 2006-07.

Voluntary Sector

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage local authorities to provide voluntary sector organisations with three-year funding settlements.

Johann Lamont: The Strategic Funding Review, established jointly by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Scottish Executive, accepted, in February 2003, the general principle that the funding of the voluntary sector should normally be awarded on a three year funding basis. However, it is for each local authority to determine local arrangements.